This information has been compiled by John and Diane Robinson. Liverpool’s Lighthouse Keepers Name/Rank Lighthouse Service Abernethy, Thomas Crosby Lightship 1845 - 1856 Keeper Formby 1856 - 1856 (Formby closed) Keeper Crosby 1856 - 1887 (Died)
Adams, James Puffin Is. Teleg. 1838 – 1860 (Superann.) (Keeper) Keeper Bidston teleg. 1861 - 1869 Keeper Bidston lighthouse 1869 – 1879 (Superann.)
Adams, Jane Bidston 1870 - 1875 (Assistant)
Adams, Mary Bidston 1867 - 1869 (Asst. telegraph) Assistant (LH) Bidston 1869 - 1870
Ainsdell, Jeremiah Hoylake upper 1764 - ?
Appleton, Thos./Samuel Rock 1830 - 1832?
Askew, James Herbert Bidston teleg. 1864 - 1864 Assistant Keeper Hoylake lower 1864 - 1869 2nd Assistant Ormeshead 1869 - 1872 Keeper Hoylake lower 1872 - 1875 Assistant Keeper Bidston 1875 - 1883 Keeper Hilbre teleg. 1883 - 1888 Keeper Hoylake lower 1888 - 1892 1st Assistant Bidston 1892 - 1901 Keeper Ormeshead 1901 - 1912 (Superann.)
Austin, Ernest Bidston 1900 - 1901 2nd Assistant Lynas 1901 - 1903 Assistant Keeper Ormeshead 1903 - 1911 (Died)
Austin, John Liverpool Teleg. 1877 - 1883 2nd Assistant Ormeshead 1883 - 1885 Assistant Keeper Ormeshead 1885 - 1900 Keeper Liverpool Teleg. 1900 - 1909 Caretaker Leasowe 1909 - 1920
Beaver, Robert Lynas 1809 - 1814 (Died) Keeper
Bell, Thomas Lightship seaman 1854 - 1856 Dock gateman 1856 - 1860 Landing stage 1860 - 1865 Assistant Keeper Hoylake lower 1865 - 1868 Keeper Hoylake upper 1868 - 1880 Keeper Leasowe 1880 - 1892 (Died)
Bennett, Elizabeth Hoylake upper 1828 - 1829
Bennett, John Leasowe lower 1764 - ?
Bennett, Joseph Hoylake upper 1809 - 1828 (Died)
Beynon, Maurice Lightship 1876 - 1884 2nd Assistant Lynas 1884 - 1896 (1876 – 1884 lightship) Assistant Keeper Hoylake lower 1896 - 1905 Keeper Hoylake lower 1905 - 1907 Keeper Point Lynas 1907 - 1915 (Died)
Bird, Henry Mersey Tender 1854 - 1860 Keeper Hoylake lower 1860 – 1868 (Died)
Bird, William Hoylake upper 1819 - 1855 (Superann.)
Brett, Ronnie Ormeshead 1969 - ? (Keeper)
Brown, Joseph Rock 1834 - 1834 (Resigned)
Brown, Richardson Lightship seaman 1851 - 1857 Landing Stage 1857 - 1865 Assistant Keeper Hoylake upper 1865 - 1871
Buckley, Robert Lightship seaman 1873 - 1891 Assistant Keeper Hoylake, lower 1891 - 1896 Keeper Crosby 1896 - 1898 (Died) (Lost his life in Crosby fire)
Chambers, David Lightship seaman 1863 - 1879 Keeper Hoylake lower 1879 - 1888 Keeper Bidston 1888 - 1903 (Superann.)
Christopherson, John Rock 1832 - 1833 2nd Keeper Rock 1833 - 1834 (Resigned) 1st Keeper Rock ? - 1836 Keeper Formby 1836 - 1839 Keeper Crosby 1839 - 1840 (Resigned)
Codd, James Lightship seaman 1876 - 1887 Assistant Keeper Dove Marks 1887 - 1890 Assistant Keeper Hoylake, lower 1890 - 1891 Subordinate Mate Lightships 1891 - 1897 Assistant Keeper North Wall 1897 - 1901 (Superann.)
Curwen, Matthew Rock 1832 - 1832 (Resigned) 3rd Keeper Rock 1834 - 1836 2nd Keeper Rock 1836 - 1837 Principal Keeper Rock 1837 - 1841 (Removed)
Dodd, Arthur Middleton Voel Nant 1868 - 1885 (Assistant Keeper) Assistant Keeper South Stack tele. 1885 - 1888 2nd Assistant Ormeshead 1888 - 1892 Assistant Keeper Liverpool teleg. 1892 - 1893 (Resigned)
Dodd, James Johnson Voel Nant teleg. 1880 - 1882 (Assistant Keeper) Assistant Keeper S.Stack Teleg. 1882 - 1885 2nd Assistant Ormeshead 1885 - 1888 Keeper Voel Nant teleg. 1888 - 1915 Keeper Lynas 1915 - 1930 (Superann.)
Dodd, William M. Ormeshead 1874 - 1875 (Resigned)
Eaton, Harry Messenger 1905 - 1921 Junior Asst. Keeper Ormeshead 1921 - 1925 Assistant Keeper North Wall 1925 - 1940+
Eccles, Robert Hilbre teleg. 1883 - 1885 (Assistant Keeper) Assistant Voel Nant teleg. 1885 - 1888 Assistant S. Stack teleg. 1888 - 1892 2nd Assistant Keeper Ormeshead 1892 - 1896 2nd Keeper Lynas 1896 - 1901 1st Assistant Keeper Lynas 1901 - 1913 Keeper Ormeshead 1913 - 1930 (Superann.)
Eccles, Samuel Messenger 1888 - 1900 2nd Assistant Ormeshead 1900 - 1902 (Resigned)
Eccles, Thomas Lightship seaman 1865 - 1875 Assistant Keeper Hoylake lower 1875 - 1890 Assistant Keeper Dove Marks 1890 - 1899 Keeper Hoylake lower 1899 – 1905 (Superann.)
Eccles, William Lightship seaman 1895 - 1905 Assistant Keeper Hoylake lower 1905 - 1908 Lightship seaman 1908 - 1914 Assistant Keeper Rock 1914 - 1924 Head stage man 1924 - 1934
Flockheart, William Rock 1830 - 1830 (Resigned)
Francis, John Thompson Rock 1875 - 1902 (Died) (Keeper)
Gaylord, D. Lynas 1949 - 1969? (Assistant)
Green, John W. Rock 1848 - 1864 (3rd Keeper) 2nd Keeper Rock 1864 - 1874 (Died)
Grumley, Nicholas G. Ormeshead 1902 - 1903 (2nd Assistant) 2nd Assistant Bidston 1903 - 1910 (Died)
Hannah, John Rock 1837 - 1841 (3rd Keeper) 1st Keeper Rock 1841 - 1874 (Superann.)
Henderson, Johnson Crosby 1840 -1842 (Keeper) (Died)
Hughes, John Edward Dock gateman 1856 - 1858 Keeper Hoylake lower 1858 - 1862 Assistant Keeper Ormeshead 1862 - 1866 Keeper Hoylake upper 1866 - 1868 Keeper Hoylake lower 1868 - 1879 Keeper Bidston 1879 - 1888 (Superann.)
Hughes, Thomas Rock 1840 - ?
Johns, Thomas (Assistant) Hoylake upper 1871 - 1880 (Died)
Johnson, Luke Rock 1830 - 1832 (Dismissed)
Jones, Ann Leasowe 1854 - 1867 (Died)
Jones, Edward Lightship seaman 1860 - 1877 Keeper North Wall 1877 - 1887 Keeper Crosby 1887 - 1896 (Superann. 1896)
Jones, Ellen Ormeshead 1863 - 1866 (Asst., Keeper’s daughter)
Jones, F.L. Lynas ? - 1949 (Resigned) (Snr. Asst.)
Jones, Job Hilbre Teleg. 1833 – 1834 (Resigned) Llysfaen Teleg. 1836 - 1842 Keeper Ormeshead Teleg. 1842 - 1862 Keeper Ormeshead 1862 - 1885 (Superann.)
Jones, John Leasowe 1830 - 1854 (Dismissed)
Jones, John Lynas 1850 - 1856 (Resigned) (Assistant)
Jones, Lewis Lynas Teleg. 1875 - 1879 (Asst. old telegraph station) 2nd Assistant Lynas 1879 - 1884 (new combined LH & teleg) Assistant Keeper Bidston 1884 - 1885 Assistant Keeper Voel Nant teleg. 1885 - 1888 Keeper Hilbre Teleg. 1888 - 1923
Jones, William Dock gateman 1838 - 1850 3rd Keeper Rock 1850 - 1874 (Superann.)
Kaney, William Lightship seaman 1870 - 1886 Assistant Keeper Dove Marks 1886 - 1887 1st Assistant Bidston 1887 - 1892 Keeper Hoylake lower 1892 - 1899 Keeper Lynas 1899 - 1907 (Superann.)
Lawrence, William Rock 1842 - 1848 (3rd Keeper) 2nd Keeper Rock 1848 - 1850
Lee, James, Snr. Hoylake lower 1836 - 1860 (Died)
Lee, James, Jnr. Dock gateman 1852 - 1855 Keeper Hoylake upper 1855 - 1866 Assistant Keeper Ormeshead 1866 - 1874 (Superann.)
Lloyd, David Rock 1837 - 1846 Keeper Crosby 1846 - 1851 Keeper Formby 1851 - 1855 (Killed, train accident)
Makin, William Lightship seaman 1887 - 1906 Subordinate Mate Rock 1906 - 1913 Keeper Rock 1913 - 1914 Keeper North Wall 1914 - 1916 (Died)
Mathias, William Holyhead Teleg. 1847 - 1859 (Assistant) Keeper Holyhead Teleg. 1859 - 1872 1st Assistant Bidston 1872 - 1885 Keeper Ormeshead 1885 - 1901 (Superann. 1901) Started at Holyhead age 12
Mathias, William P. Messenger 1909 - 1909 Assistant Keeper Hilbre Teleg. 1909 - 1910 Assistant Keeper Liverpool Teleg. 1910 - 1911 2nd Assistant South Stack Teleg. 1911 - 1912 2nd Assistant Lynas 1912 - 1937 Senior Assistant Lynas 1937 - 1947 Keeper Lynas 1947 - 1949 (Retired ill health 1949)
McLaughlin, John Rock 1914 - 1924 (then head stageman)
Morgan, Albert Herbert Messenger 1880 - 1881 Assistant Keeper Hilbre teleg. 1881 - 1883 Assistant Keeper Liverpool teleg. 1883 - 1885 Assistant Keeper Bidston 1885 - 1900 1st Assistant Ormeshead 1900 - 1903 1st Assistant Bidston 1903 - 1912 Keeper Ormeshead 1912 - 1913 Keeper then caretaker Bidston 1913 - 1916 Keeper North Wall 1916 - 1927 (Superann.)
Morgan, Alma Inkerman Lynas ?
Morgan, David Rock 1841 - 1848 Keeper Lynas 1848 - 1884 (Superann.)
Morgan, Joseph Lightship seaman 1843 - 1864 Storekeeper Marine Surveyor 1864 - 1867 Keeper Leasowe 1867 - 1880 Keeper Hoylake upper 1880 - 1886 Keeper Dove Marks 1886 - 1886 (Superann.)
Morgan, Lettice Lynas 1856 - 1863 (Resigned) (Assistant)
Morgan, Mary Lynas 1863 - 1867+ (Assistant)
Morgan, Ridley Latimer W. Lynas 1873 - 1875 (Resigned) (Assistant)
Peterkin, Albert G. Ormeshead 1866 - 1869 (Resigned)
Peterkin, William R. Ormeshead 1872 - 1874 (2nd Assistant)
Pierce, George Lynas ? - 1872 (to S. Stack telegraph)
Pritchard, Elizabeth Lynas 1832 -1848 (Died) Keeper
Pritchard, John Lynas 1848 - 1848 (Resigned) (Assistant)
Pritchard, Robert, (Lt.) Lynas 1814 - 1832 (Died) (Keeper)
Pritchard, Robert Ormeshead 1875 - 1883 (2nd Assistant) Assistant Bidston 1883 - 1883 (Died)
Rimmer, Thomas Hoylake upper 1764 - ?
Roberts, Richard Puffin Island 1846 – 1852 (Assistant) Keeper Puffin Island 1852 – 1855 Assistant Lynas 1855 - 1879 1st Assistant Lynas 1879 - 1884 Keeper Lynas 1884 - 1899 (Superann.) (53 years with the MDHB)
Robertson, Thomas North Wall 1877 - 1906 (Superann.) (Keeper)
Robinson, J.A. Ormeshead ? - 1936 (Died)
Rowland, A.E. North Wall 1923? - 1925
Schofield, Walter Lynas 1948 - 1973+
Seed, Jane Hoylake upper 1808 - 1809 (sister of Thomas)
Seed, Nicholas Hoylake upper 1776 - ?
Seed, Thomas Hoylake upper ? - 1808 (Died)
Slade, William Alfred Lightship seaman 1897 - 1901 2nd Keeper Bidston 1901 - 1903 2nd Assistant Lynas 1903 - 1912 1st Assistant Ormeshead 1912 - 1930 Keeper Lynas 1930 - 1937 (Superann.)
Smarley, Alexander Leasowe upper 1764 - 1765?
Smith, John, Snr. Hoylake lower c.1774 - 1814
Smith, John, Jnr. Hoylake lower 1814 - 1836 (Superann.)
Smith, John Leasowe 1803 - 1830
Smith, Thomas Lightship seaman 1886 - 1902 Keeper Rock 1902 - 1906 Keeper North Wall 1906 - 1914 Keeper Rock 1914 - 1919+
Spinks, James Lightship seaman 1862 - 1864 Hoylake lower 1864 - 1872 (Dismissed)
Stanford, Charles, Snr. Lightship seaman 1876 - 1884 Assistant Keeper Lynas 1884 - 1901 1st Assistant Bidston 1901 - 1903 Keeper Bidston 1903 - 1913 (Superann.)
Stanford, Charles, Jnr. Bidston 1910 - 1913 Assistant Keeper Lynas 1913 - 1913 Assistant Keeper North Wall 1913 - 1923 Senior Keeper Liverpool teleg. 1923 - 1940+
Stanford, James Henry Ormeshead 1911 - 1921 (2nd Assistant) Senior Asst Keeper Lynas 1921 - 1923 Assistant Keeper North Wall 1923 - 1929 (Briefly at Lpool teleg.) Senior Asst Keeper Lynas 1930 - 1937 Keeper Lynas 1937 - 1946 (Returned to Lpool tele)
Stirzaker, Thomas Rock 1841 - 1842 Keeper Crosby 1842 - 1846 (Promoted Pier Master)
Thomas, John Ormeshead 1903 - 1911 (2nd Assistant) Keeper Ormeshead 1911 - 1912 Keeper Bidston 1912 - 1913 Assistant keeper North Wall 1913 - 1913 1st Assistant Point Lynas 1913 - 1919 +
Trowsdale, Joseph Lightship seaman 1869 - 1880 Assistant Keeper Hoylake upper 1880 - 1882 Assistant Keeper Ormeshead 1882 - 1885 1st Assistant Bidston 1885 - 1887 (Died)
Turner, Thomas Dove Marks 1892 - 1899 (Assistant Keeper) Subordinate Mate Lightships 1899 - 1901 Assistant Keeper North Wall 1901 - 1913 (Superann.)
Urmson, William Bidston 1797 - 1835 (Keeper)
Urmson, Ann Bidston 1835 - 1869 (Keeper) (Died)
Urmson, John Bidston 1869 - 1872 (Principal Assistant)
Walker, Joseph, Lt. Formby 1834 - 1836 (Drowned)
Wallace, John Rock 1833 - 1834 (Dismissed)
Wallace, Thomas Rock 1834 - 1834 2nd Keeper Rock 1834 - 1836 1st Keeper Rock 1836 - 1837
Wilding, Elizabeth Bidston 1797 - 1800 (Keeper)
Wilding, Richard Leasowe 1765? - 1771? (Keeper) Keeper Bidston 1771? – 1797 (Died)
Williams, Hugh North Wall 1887 - 1897 (Superann.)
Williams, Job Messenger 1888 - 1892 Assistant South Stack tele. 1892 - 1896 2nd Assistant Ormeshead 1896 - 1900 (Resigned)
Williams, John/William Rock 1830 - 1830 (Dismissed)
Williams, John Edward Messenger 1919 - 1920 Assistant Keeper Hilbre telegraph 1920 - 1928 Assistant Keeper Liverpool teleg. 1928 - 1937 Jnr.Asst. Keeper Lynas 1937 - 1946 Senior Assistant Lynas 1946 - 1949 Keeper Lynas 1949 - 1962
Williams, Mary Elizabeth Leasowe 1894 - 1908 (LH closed)
Williams, Thomas Dock Gateman 1868 - 1874 Assistant Keeper Ormeshead 1874 - 1882 Assistant Keeper Hoylake, upper 1882 - 1886 (LH closed) Keeper Dove Marks 1886 - 1892 Keeper Leasowe 1892 - 1894 (Died)
Woods, Robert Leasowe ? - 1803 (Dismissed)
Notes.
(Died) means that the keeper was still serving when he died. In the records names are sometimes spelled inconsistently, therefore the most common spelling has been used in this table.
Primary Sources
Liverpool Record Office
Transactions of the Historical Society of Lancashire and Cheshire.
Minutes of the Dock Committee, 1793 – 1850 (352 MIN/DOC I & II)
Minutes of the Select Finance Committee, 1797 – 1865 (352 MIN/FIN I & II)
Town Books, 1738 – 1792, microfilm
Merseyside Maritime Museum
Lighthouses, Vol. I (WUP154)
Pilot Committee Meetings, 1779 – 1807 (MDHB/MP/14/1)
Extracts from Minutes of the Dock Committee, from 1699. (MDHB/1/25)
Proceedings of the MDHB, 1784 – 1945 (MDHB/MP/1, et seq)
Minutes of the Marine Committee, 1855 – 1945 (MDHB/MP/13)
Register of Salaried Officers (MDHB/SW/1)
Marine Surveyor’s Letter Book (MDHB/M/S)